HERMOGENES：Verylikely。
　　SOCRATES：Yes，verylikely。Butstilltheenquirydemandsourearnestattentionandwemustnotflinch。Forweshouldremember，thatifapersongoonanalysingnamesintowords，andenquiringalsointotheelementsoutofwhichthewordsareformed，andkeepsonalwaysrepeatingthisprocess，hewhohastoanswerhimmustatlastgiveuptheenquiryindespair。
　　HERMOGENES：Verytrue。
　　SOCRATES：Andatwhatpointoughthetoloseheartandgiveuptheenquiry？Musthenotstopwhenhecomestothenameswhicharetheelementsofallothernamesandsentences；forthesecannotbesupposedtobemadeupofothernames？Thewordagathon（good），forexample，is，asweweresaying，acompoundofagastos（admirable）andthoos（swift）。Andprobablythoosismadeupofotherelements，andtheseagainofothers。
　　Butifwetakeawordwhichisincapableoffurtherresolution，thenweshallberightinsayingthatwehaveatlastreachedaprimaryelement，whichneednotberesolvedanyfurther。
　　HERMOGENES：Ibelieveyoutobeintheright。
　　SOCRATES：Andsupposethenamesaboutwhichyouarenowaskingshouldturnouttobeprimaryelements，mustnottheirtruthorlawbeexaminedaccordingtosomenewmethod？
　　HERMOGENES：Verylikely。
　　SOCRATES：Quiteso，Hermogenes；allthathasprecededwouldleadtothisconclusion。Andif，asIthink，theconclusionistrue，thenIshallagainsaytoyou，comeandhelpme，thatImaynotfallintosomeabsurdityinstatingtheprincipleofprimarynames。
　　HERMOGENES：Letmehear，andIwilldomybesttoassistyou。
　　SOCRATES：Ithinkthatyouwillacknowledgewithme，thatoneprincipleisapplicabletoallnames，primaryaswellassecondary——whentheyareregardedsimplyasnames，thereisnodifferenceinthem。
　　HERMOGENES：Certainlynot。
　　SOCRATES：Allthenamesthatwehavebeenexplainingwereintendedtoindicatethenatureofthings。
　　HERMOGENES：Ofcourse。
　　SOCRATES：Andthatthisistrueoftheprimaryquiteasmuchasofthesecondarynames，isimpliedintheirbeingnames。
　　HERMOGENES：Surely。
　　SOCRATES：Butthesecondary，asIconceive，derivetheirsignificancefromtheprimary。
　　HERMOGENES：Thatisevident。
　　SOCRATES：Verygood；butthenhowdotheprimarynameswhichprecedeanalysisshowthenaturesofthings，asfarastheycanbeshown；whichtheymustdo，iftheyaretoberealnames？AndhereIwillaskyouaquestion：Supposethatwehadnovoiceortongue，andwantedtocommunicatewithoneanother，shouldwenot，likethedeafanddumb，makesignswiththehandsandheadandtherestofthebody？
　　HERMOGENES：Therewouldbenochoice，Socrates。
　　SOCRATES：Weshouldimitatethenatureofthething；theelevationofourhandstoheavenwouldmeanlightnessandupwardness；heavinessanddownwardnesswouldbeexpressedbylettingthemdroptotheground；ifweweredescribingtherunningofahorse，oranyotheranimal，weshouldmakeourbodiesandtheirgesturesaslikeaswecouldtothem。
　　HERMOGENES：Idonotseethatwecoulddoanythingelse。
　　SOCRATES：Wecouldnot；forbybodilyimitationonlycanthebodyeverexpressanything。
　　HERMOGENES：Verytrue。
　　SOCRATES：Andwhenwewanttoexpressourselves，eitherwiththevoice，ortongue，ormouth，theexpressionissimplytheirimitationofthatwhichwewanttoexpress。
　　HERMOGENES：Itmustbeso，Ithink。
　　SOCRATES：Thenanameisavocalimitationofthatwhichthevocalimitatornamesorimitates？
　　HERMOGENES：Ithinkso。
　　SOCRATES：Nay，myfriend，Iamdisposedtothinkthatwehavenotreachedthetruthasyet。
　　HERMOGENES：Whynot？
　　SOCRATES：Becauseifwehaveweshallbeobligedtoadmitthatthepeoplewhoimitatesheep，orcocks，orotheranimals，namethatwhichtheyimitate。
　　HERMOGENES：Quitetrue。
　　SOCRATES：ThencouldIhavebeenrightinwhatIwassaying？
　　HERMOGENES：Inmyopinion，no。ButIwishthatyouwouldtellme，Socrates，whatsortofanimitationisaname？
　　SOCRATES：Inthefirstplace，Ishouldreply，notamusicalimitation，althoughthatisalsovocal；nor，again，animitationofwhatmusicimitates；these，inmyjudgment，wouldnotbenaming。Letmeputthematterasfollows：Allobjectshavesoundandfigure，andmanyhavecolour？
　　HERMOGENES：Certainly。
　　SOCRATES：Buttheartofnamingappearsnottobeconcernedwithimitationsofthiskind；theartswhichhavetodowiththemaremusicanddrawing？
　　HERMOGENES：True。
　　SOCRATES：Again，istherenotanessenceofeachthing，justasthereisacolour，orsound？Andistherenotanessenceofcolourandsoundaswellasofanythingelsewhichmaybesaidtohaveanessence？
　　HERMOGENES：Ishouldthinkso。
　　SOCRATES：Well，andifanyonecouldexpresstheessenceofeachthinginlettersandsyllables，wouldhenotexpressthenatureofeachthing？
　　HERMOGENES：Quiteso。
　　SOCRATES：Themusicianandthepainterwerethetwonameswhichyougavetothetwootherimitators。Whatwillthisimitatorbecalled？
　　HERMOGENES：Iimagine，Socrates，thathemustbethenamer，orname-giver，ofwhomweareinsearch。
　　SOCRATES：Ifthisistrue，thenIthinkthatweareinaconditiontoconsiderthenamesron（stream），ienai（togo），schesis（retention），aboutwhichyouwereasking；andwemayseewhetherthenamerhasgraspedthenatureoftheminlettersandsyllablesinsuchamannerastoimitatetheessenceornot。
　　HERMOGENES：Verygood。
　　SOCRATES：Butarethesetheonlyprimarynames，orarethereothers？
　　HERMOGENES：Theremustbeothers。
　　SOCRATES：SoIshouldexpect。Buthowshallwefurtheranalysethem，andwheredoestheimitatorbegin？Imitationoftheessenceismadebysyllablesandletters；oughtwenot，therefore，firsttoseparatetheletters，justasthosewhoarebeginningrhythmfirstdistinguishthepowersofelementary，andthenofcompoundsounds，andwhentheyhavedoneso，butnotbefore，theyproceedtotheconsiderationofrhythms？
　　HERMOGENES：Yes。
　　SOCRATES：Mustwenotbegininthesamewaywithletters；firstseparatingthevowels，andthentheconsonantsandmutes（letterswhichareneithervowelsnorsemivowels），intoclasses，accordingtothereceiveddistinctionsofthelearned；alsothesemivowels，whichareneithervowels，noryetmutes；anddistinguishingintoclassesthevowelsthemselves？Andwhenwehaveperfectedtheclassificationofthings，weshallgivethemnames，andseewhether，asinthecaseofletters，thereareanyclassestowhichtheymaybeallreferred（cf。Phaedrus）；andhenceweshallseetheirnatures，andsee，too，whethertheyhaveinthemclassesasthereareintheletters；andwhenwehavewellconsideredallthis，weshallknowhowtoapplythemtowhattheyresemble——whetheroneletterisusedtodenoteonething，orwhetherthereistobeanadmixtureofseveralofthem；just，asinpainting，thepainterwhowantstodepictanythingsometimesusespurpleonly，oranyothercolour，andsometimesmixesupseveralcolours，ashismethodiswhenhehastopaintfleshcolouroranythingofthatkind——heuseshiscoloursashisfiguresappeartorequirethem；andso，too，weshallapplyletterstotheexpressionofobjects，eithersingleletterswhenrequired，orseveralletters；andsoweshallformsyllables，astheyarecalled，andfromsyllablesmakenounsandverbs；andthus，atlast，fromthecombinationsofnounsandverbsarriveatlanguage，largeandfairandwhole；andasthepaintermadeafigure，evensoshallwemakespeechbytheartofthenamerortherhetorician，orbysomeotherart。
　　NotthatIamliterallyspeakingofourselves，butIwascarriedaway——
　　meaningtosaythatthiswasthewayinwhich（notwebut）theancientsformedlanguage，andwhattheyputtogetherwemusttaketopiecesinlikemanner，ifwearetoattainascientificviewofthewholesubject，andwemustseewhethertheprimary，andalsowhetherthesecondaryelementsarerightlygivenornot，foriftheyarenot，thecompositionofthem，mydearHermogenes，willbeasorrypieceofwork，andinthewrongdirection。
　　HERMOGENES：That，Socrates，Icanquitebelieve。
　　SOCRATES：Well，butdoyousupposethatyouwillbeabletoanalysetheminthisway？forIamcertainthatIshouldnot。
　　HERMOGENES：MuchlessamIlikelytobeable。
　　SOCRATES：Shallweleavethem，then？orshallweseektodiscover，ifwecan，somethingaboutthem，accordingtothemeasureofourability，sayingbywayofpreface，asIsaidbeforeoftheGods，thatofthetruthaboutthemweknownothing，anddobutentertainhumannotionsofthem。Andinthispresentenquiry，letussaytoourselves，beforeweproceed，thatthehighermethodistheonewhichweorotherswhowouldanalyselanguagetoanygoodpurposemustfollow；butunderthecircumstances，asmensay，wemustdoaswellaswecan。Whatdoyouthink？
　　HERMOGENES：Iverymuchapprove。
　　SOCRATES：Thatobjectsshouldbeimitatedinlettersandsyllables，andsofindexpression，mayappearridiculous，Hermogenes，butitcannotbeavoided——thereisnobetterprincipletowhichwecanlookforthetruthoffirstnames。Deprivedofthis，wemusthaverecoursetodivinehelp，likethetragicpoets，whoinanyperplexityhavetheirgodswaitingintheair；
　　andmustgetoutofourdifficultyinlikefashion，bysayingthat’theGodsgavethefirstnames，andthereforetheyareright。’Thiswillbethebestcontrivance，orperhapsthatothernotionmaybeevenbetterstill，ofderivingthemfromsomebarbarouspeople，forthebarbariansareolderthanweare；orwemaysaythatantiquityhascastaveiloverthem，whichisthesamesortofexcuseasthelast；forallthesearenotreasonsbutonlyingeniousexcusesforhavingnoreasonsconcerningthetruthofwords。Andyetanysortofignoranceoffirstorprimitivenamesinvolvesanignoranceofsecondarywords；fortheycanonlybeexplainedbytheprimary。Clearlythentheprofessoroflanguagesshouldbeabletogiveaverylucidexplanationoffirstnames，orlethimbeassuredhewillonlytalknonsenseabouttherest。Doyounotsupposethistobetrue？
　　HERMOGENES：Certainly，Socrates。
　　SOCRATES：Myfirstnotionsoforiginalnamesaretrulywildandridiculous，thoughIhavenoobjectiontoimpartthemtoyouifyoudesire，andIhopethatyouwillcommunicatetomeinreturnanythingbetterwhichyoumayhave。
　　HERMOGENES：Fearnot；Iwilldomybest。
　　SOCRATES：Inthefirstplace，theletterrhoappearstometobethegeneralinstrumentexpressingallmotion（kinesis）。ButIhavenotyetexplainedthemeaningofthislatterword，whichisjustiesis（going）；fortheletteretawasnotinuseamongtheancients，whoonlyemployedepsilon；andtherootiskiein，whichisaforeignform，thesameasienai。
　　Andtheoldwordkinesiswillbecorrectlygivenasiesisincorrespondingmodernletters。Assumingthisforeignrootkiein，andallowingforthechangeoftheetaandtheinsertionofthenu，wehavekinesis，whichshouldhavebeenkieinsisoreisis；andstasisisthenegativeofienai（oreisis），andhasbeenimprovedintostasis。Nowtheletterrho，asIwassaying，appearedtotheimposerofnamesanexcellentinstrumentfortheexpressionofmotion；andhefrequentlyusestheletterforthispurpose：
　　forexample，intheactualwordsreinandroeherepresentsmotionbyrho；
　　alsointhewordstromos（trembling），trachus（rugged）；andagain，inwordssuchaskrouein（strike），thrauein（crush），ereikein（bruise），thruptein（break），kermatixein（crumble），rumbein（whirl）：ofallthesesortsofmovementshegenerallyfindsanexpressionintheletterR，because，asI
　　imagine，hehadobservedthatthetonguewasmostagitatedandleastatrestinthepronunciationofthisletter，whichhethereforeusedinordertoexpressmotion，justasbytheletteriotaheexpressesthesubtleelementswhichpassthroughallthings。Thisiswhyheusestheletteriotaasimitativeofmotion，ienai，iesthai。Andthereisanotherclassofletters，phi，psi，sigma，andxi，ofwhichthepronunciationisaccompaniedbygreatexpenditureofbreath；theseareusedintheimitationofsuchnotionsaspsuchron（shivering），xeon（seething），seiesthai，（tobeshaken），seismos（shock），andarealwaysintroducedbythegiverofnameswhenhewantstoimitatewhatisphusodes（windy）。Heseemstohavethoughtthattheclosingandpressureofthetongueintheutteranceofdeltaandtauwasexpressiveofbindingandrestinaplace：hefurtherobservedtheliquidmovementoflambda，inthepronunciationofwhichthetongueslips，andinthishefoundtheexpressionofsmoothness，asinleios（level），andinthewordoliothanein（toslip）itself，liparon（sleek），inthewordkollodes（gluey），andthelike：theheaviersoundofgammadetainedtheslippingtongue，andtheunionofthetwogavethenotionofaglutinousclammynature，asinglischros，glukus，gloiodes。
　　Thenuheobservedtobesoundedfromwithin，andthereforetohaveanotionofinwardness；henceheintroducedthesoundinendosandentos：
　　alphaheassignedtotheexpressionofsize，andnuoflength，becausetheyaregreatletters：omicronwasthesignofroundness，andthereforethereisplentyofomicronmixedupinthewordgoggulon（round）。Thusdidthelegislator，reducingallthingsintolettersandsyllables，andimpressingonthemnamesandsigns，andoutofthembyimitationcompoundingothersigns。Thatismyview，Hermogenes，ofthetruthofnames；butIshouldliketohearwhatCratylushasmoretosay。
　　HERMOGENES：But，Socrates，asIwastellingyoubefore，Cratylusmystifiesme；hesaysthatthereisafitnessofnames，butheneverexplainswhatisthisfitness，sothatIcannottellwhetherhisobscurityisintendedornot。Tellmenow，Cratylus，hereinthepresenceofSocrates，doyouagreeinwhatSocrateshasbeensayingaboutnames，orhaveyousomethingbetterofyourown？andifyouhave，tellmewhatyourviewis，andthenyouwilleitherlearnofSocrates，orSocratesandIwilllearnofyou。
　　CRATYLUS：Well，butsurely，Hermogenes，youdonotsupposethatyoucanlearn，orIexplain，anysubjectofimportanceallinamoment；atanyrate，notsuchasubjectaslanguage，whichis，perhaps，theverygreatestofall。
　　HERMOGENES：No，indeed；but，asHesiodsays，andIagreewithhim，’toaddlittletolittle’isworthwhile。And，therefore，ifyouthinkthatyoucanaddanythingatall，howeversmall，toourknowledge，takealittletroubleandobligeSocrates，andmetoo，whocertainlyhaveaclaimuponyou。
　　SOCRATES：Iambynomeanspositive，Cratylus，intheviewwhichHermogenesandmyselfhaveworkedout；andthereforedonothesitatetosaywhatyouthink，whichifitbebetterthanmyownviewIshallgladlyaccept。AndIshouldnotbeatallsurprizedtofindthatyouhavefoundsomebetternotion。Foryouhaveevidentlyreflectedonthesemattersandhavehadteachers，andifyouhavereallyabettertheoryofthetruthofnames，youmaycountmeinthenumberofyourdisciples。
　　CRATYLUS：Youareright，Socrates，insayingthatIhavemadeastudyofthesematters，andImightpossiblyconvertyouintoadisciple。ButI
　　fearthattheoppositeismoreprobable，andIalreadyfindmyselfmovedtosaytoyouwhatAchillesinthe’Prayers’saystoAjax，——
　　’IllustriousAjax，sonofTelamon，lordofthepeople，Youappeartohavespokeninallthingsmuchtomymind。’
　　Andyou，Socrates，appeartometobeanoracle，andtogiveanswersmuchtomymind，whetheryouareinspiredbyEuthyphro，orwhethersomeMusemayhavelongbeenaninhabitantofyourbreast，unconsciouslytoyourself。
　　SOCRATES：ExcellentCratylus，Ihavelongbeenwonderingatmyownwisdom；
　　Icannottrustmyself。AndIthinkthatIoughttostopandaskmyselfWhatamIsaying？forthereisnothingworsethanself-deception——whenthedeceiverisalwaysathomeandalwayswithyou——itisquiteterrible，andthereforeIoughtoftentoretracemystepsandendeavourto’lookforeandaft，’inthewordsoftheaforesaidHomer。Andnowletmesee；wherearewe？Havewenotbeensayingthatthecorrectnameindicatesthenatureofthething：——hasthispropositionbeensufficientlyproven？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes，Socrates，whatyousay，asIamdisposedtothink，isquitetrue。
　　SOCRATES：Names，then，aregiveninordertoinstruct？
　　CRATYLUS：Certainly。
　　SOCRATES：Andnamingisanart，andhasartificers？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes。
　　SOCRATES：Andwhoarethey？
　　CRATYLUS：Thelegislators，ofwhomyouspokeatfirst。
　　SOCRATES：Anddoesthisartgrowupamongmenlikeotherarts？LetmeexplainwhatImean：ofpainters，somearebetterandsomeworse？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes。
　　SOCRATES：Thebetterpaintersexecutetheirworks，Imeantheirfigures，better，andtheworseexecutethemworse；andofbuildersalso，thebettersortbuildfairerhouses，andtheworsebuildthemworse。
　　CRATYLUS：True。
　　SOCRATES：Andamonglegislators，therearesomewhodotheirworkbetterandsomeworse？
　　CRATYLUS：No；thereIdonotagreewithyou。
　　SOCRATES：Thenyoudonotthinkthatsomelawsarebetterandothersworse？
　　CRATYLUS：No，indeed。
　　SOCRATES：Orthatonenameisbetterthananother？
　　CRATYLUS：Certainlynot。
　　SOCRATES：Thenallnamesarerightlyimposed？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes，iftheyarenamesatall。
　　SOCRATES：Well，whatdoyousaytothenameofourfriendHermogenes，whichwasmentionedbefore：——assumingthathehasnothingofthenatureofHermesinhim，shallwesaythatthisisawrongname，ornothisnameatall？
　　CRATYLUS：IshouldreplythatHermogenesisnothisnameatall，butonlyappearstobehis，andisreallythenameofsomebodyelse，whohasthenaturewhichcorrespondstoit。
　　SOCRATES：AndifamanweretocallhimHermogenes，wouldhenotbeevenspeakingfalsely？FortheremaybeadoubtwhetheryoucancallhimHermogenes，ifheisnot。
　　CRATYLUS：Whatdoyoumean？
　　SOCRATES：Areyoumaintainingthatfalsehoodisimpossible？ForifthisisyourmeaningIshouldanswer，thattherehavebeenplentyofliarsinallages。
　　CRATYLUS：Why，Socrates，howcanamansaythatwhichisnot？——saysomethingandyetsaynothing？Forisnotfalsehoodsayingthethingwhichisnot？
　　SOCRATES：Yourargument，friend，istoosubtleforamanofmyage。ButI
　　shouldliketoknowwhetheryouareoneofthosephilosopherswhothinkthatfalsehoodmaybespokenbutnotsaid？
　　CRATYLUS：Neitherspokennorsaid。
　　SOCRATES：Norutterednoraddressed？Forexample：Ifaperson，salutingyouinaforeigncountry，weretotakeyourhandandsay：’Hail，Athenianstranger，Hermogenes，sonofSmicrion’——thesewords，whetherspoken，said，uttered，oraddressed，wouldhavenoapplicationtoyoubutonlytoourfriendHermogenes，orperhapstonobodyatall？
　　CRATYLUS：Inmyopinion，Socrates，thespeakerwouldonlybetalkingnonsense。
　　SOCRATES：Well，butthatwillbequiteenoughforme，ifyouwilltellmewhetherthenonsensewouldbetrueorfalse，orpartlytrueandpartlyfalse：——whichisallthatIwanttoknow。
　　CRATYLUS：Ishouldsaythathewouldbeputtinghimselfinmotiontonopurpose；andthathiswordswouldbeanunmeaningsoundlikethenoiseofhammeringatabrazenpot。
　　SOCRATES：Butletussee，Cratylus，whetherwecannotfindameeting-
　　point，foryouwouldadmitthatthenameisnotthesamewiththethingnamed？
　　CRATYLUS：Ishould。
　　SOCRATES：Andwouldyoufurtheracknowledgethatthenameisanimitationofthething？
　　CRATYLUS：Certainly。
　　SOCRATES：Andyouwouldsaythatpicturesarealsoimitationsofthings，butinanotherway？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes。
　　SOCRATES：Ibelieveyoumayberight，butIdonotrightlyunderstandyou。
　　Pleasetosay，then，whetherbothsortsofimitation（Imeanbothpicturesorwords）arenotequallyattributableandapplicabletothethingsofwhichtheyaretheimitation。
　　CRATYLUS：Theyare。
　　SOCRATES：Firstlookatthematterthus：youmayattributethelikenessofthemantotheman，andofthewomantothewoman；andsoon？
　　CRATYLUS：Certainly。
　　SOCRATES：Andconverselyyoumayattributethelikenessofthemantothewoman，andofthewomantotheman？
　　CRATYLUS：Verytrue。
　　SOCRATES：Andarebothmodesofassigningthemright，oronlythefirst？
　　CRATYLUS：Onlythefirst。
　　SOCRATES：Thatistosay，themodeofassignmentwhichattributestoeachthatwhichbelongstothemandislikethem？
　　CRATYLUS：Thatismyview。
　　SOCRATES：Nowthen，asIamdesirousthatwebeingfriendsshouldhaveagoodunderstandingabouttheargument，letmestatemyviewtoyou：thefirstmodeofassignment，whetherappliedtofiguresortonames，Icallright，andwhenappliedtonamesonly，trueaswellasright；andtheothermodeofgivingandassigningthenamewhichisunlike，Icallwrong，andinthecaseofnames，falseaswellaswrong。
　　CRATYLUS：Thatmaybetrue，Socrates，inthecaseofpictures；theymaybewronglyassigned；butnotinthecaseofnames——theymustbealwaysright。
　　SOCRATES：Why，whatisthedifference？MayInotgotoamanandsaytohim，’Thisisyourpicture，’showinghimhisownlikeness，orperhapsthelikenessofawoman；andwhenIsay’show，’Imeanbringbeforethesenseofsight。
　　CRATYLUS：Certainly。
　　SOCRATES：AndmayInotgotohimagain，andsay，’Thisisyourname’？——
　　forthename，likethepicture，isanimitation。MayInotsaytohim——
　　’Thisisyourname’？andmayInotthenbringtohissenseofhearingtheimitationofhimself，whenIsay，’Thisisaman’；orofafemaleofthehumanspecies，whenIsay，’Thisisawoman，’asthecasemaybe？Isnotallthatquitepossible？
　　CRATYLUS：Iwouldfainagreewithyou，Socrates；andthereforeIsay，Granted。
　　SOCRATES：Thatisverygoodofyou，ifIamright，whichneedhardlybedisputedatpresent。ButifIcanassignnamesaswellaspicturestoobjects，therightassignmentofthemwemaycalltruth，andthewrongassignmentofthemfalsehood。Nowiftherebesuchawrongassignmentofnames，theremayalsobeawrongorinappropriateassignmentofverbs；andifofnamesandverbsthenofthesentences，whicharemadeupofthem。
　　Whatdoyousay，Cratylus？
　　CRATYLUS：Iagree；andthinkthatwhatyousayisverytrue。
　　SOCRATES：Andfurther，primitivenounsmaybecomparedtopictures，andinpicturesyoumayeithergivealltheappropriatecoloursandfigures，oryoumaynotgivethemall——somemaybewanting；ortheremaybetoomanyortoomuchofthem——maytherenot？
　　CRATYLUS：Verytrue。
　　SOCRATES：Andhewhogivesallgivesaperfectpictureorfigure；andhewhotakesawayoraddsalsogivesapictureorfigure，butnotagoodone。
　　CRATYLUS：Yes。
　　SOCRATES：Inlikemanner，hewhobysyllablesandlettersimitatesthenatureofthings，ifhegivesallthatisappropriatewillproduceagoodimage，orinotherwordsaname；butifhesubtractsorperhapsaddsalittle，hewillmakeanimagebutnotagoodone；whenceIinferthatsomenamesarewellandothersillmade。
　　CRATYLUS：Thatistrue。
　　SOCRATES：Thentheartistofnamesmaybesometimesgood，orhemaybebad？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes。
　　SOCRATES：Andthisartistofnamesiscalledthelegislator？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes。
　　SOCRATES：Thenlikeotherartiststhelegislatormaybegoodorhemaybebad；itmustsurelybesoifourformeradmissionsholdgood？
　　CRATYLUS：Verytrue，Socrates；butthecaseoflanguage，yousee，isdifferent；forwhenbythehelpofgrammarweassignthelettersalphaorbeta，oranyotherletterstoacertainname，then，ifweadd，orsubtract，ormisplacealetter，thenamewhichiswrittenisnotonlywrittenwrongly，butnotwrittenatall；andinanyofthesecasesbecomesotherthananame。
　　SOCRATES：ButIdoubtwhetheryourviewisaltogethercorrect，Cratylus。
　　CRATYLUS：Howso？
　　SOCRATES：Ibelievethatwhatyousaymaybetrueaboutnumbers，whichmustbejustwhattheyare，ornotbeatall；forexample，thenumbertenatoncebecomesotherthantenifaunitbeaddedorsubtracted，andsoofanyothernumber：butthisdoesnotapplytothatwhichisqualitativeortoanythingwhichisrepresentedunderanimage。Ishouldsayratherthattheimage，ifexpressingineverypointtheentirereality，wouldnolongerbeanimage。Letussupposetheexistenceoftwoobjects：oneofthemshallbeCratylus，andtheothertheimageofCratylus；andwewillsuppose，further，thatsomeGodmakesnotonlyarepresentationsuchasapainterwouldmakeofyouroutwardformandcolour，butalsocreatesaninwardorganizationlikeyours，havingthesamewarmthandsoftness；andintothisinfusesmotion，andsoul，andmind，suchasyouhave，andinawordcopiesallyourqualities，andplacesthembyyouinanotherform；
　　wouldyousaythatthiswasCratylusandtheimageofCratylus，orthatthereweretwoCratyluses？
　　CRATYLUS：IshouldsaythatthereweretwoCratyluses。
　　SOCRATES：Thenyousee，myfriend，thatwemustfindsomeotherprincipleoftruthinimages，andalsoinnames；andnotinsistthatanimageisnolongeranimagewhensomethingisaddedorsubtracted。Doyounotperceivethatimagesareveryfarfromhavingqualitieswhicharetheexactcounterpartoftherealitieswhichtheyrepresent？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes，Isee。
　　SOCRATES：Butthenhowridiculouswouldbetheeffectofnamesonthings，iftheywereexactlythesamewiththem！Fortheywouldbethedoublesofthem，andnoonewouldbeabletodeterminewhichwerethenamesandwhichweretherealities。
　　CRATYLUS：Quitetrue。
　　SOCRATES：Thenfearnot，buthavethecouragetoadmitthatonenamemaybecorrectlyandanotherincorrectlygiven；anddonotinsistthatthenameshallbeexactlythesamewiththething；butallowtheoccasionalsubstitutionofawrongletter，andifofaletteralsoofanouninasentence，andifofanouninasentencealsoofasentencewhichisnotappropriatetothematter，andacknowledgethatthethingmaybenamed，anddescribed，solongasthegeneralcharacterofthethingwhichyouaredescribingisretained；andthis，asyouwillremember，wasremarkedbyHermogenesandmyselfintheparticularinstanceofthenamesoftheletters。
　　CRATYLUS：Yes，Iremember。
　　SOCRATES：Good；andwhenthegeneralcharacterispreserved，evenifsomeoftheproperlettersarewanting，stillthethingissignified；——well，ifallthelettersaregiven；notwell，whenonlyafewofthemaregiven。I
　　thinkthatwehadbetteradmitthis，lestwebepunishedliketravellersinAeginawhowanderaboutthestreetlateatnight：andbelikewisetoldbytruthherselfthatwehavearrivedtoolate；orifnot，youmustfindoutsomenewnotionofcorrectnessofnames，andnolongermaintainthatanameistheexpressionofathinginlettersorsyllables；forifyousayboth，youwillbeinconsistentwithyourself。
　　CRATYLUS：Iquiteacknowledge，Socrates，whatyousaytobeveryreasonable。
　　SOCRATES：Thenasweareagreedthusfar，letusaskourselveswhetheranamerightlyimposedoughtnottohavetheproperletters。
　　CRATYLUS：Yes。
　　SOCRATES：Andtheproperlettersarethosewhicharelikethethings？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes。
　　SOCRATES：Enoughthenofnameswhicharerightlygiven。Andinnameswhichareincorrectlygiven，thegreaterpartmaybesupposedtobemadeupofproperandsimilarletters，ortherewouldbenolikeness；buttherewillbelikewiseapartwhichisimproperandspoilsthebeautyandformationoftheword：youwouldadmitthat？
　　CRATYLUS：Therewouldbenouse，Socrates，inmyquarrellingwithyou，sinceIcannotbesatisfiedthatanamewhichisincorrectlygivenisanameatall。
　　SOCRATES：Doyouadmitanametobetherepresentationofathing？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes，Ido。
　　SOCRATES：Butdoyounotallowthatsomenounsareprimitive，andsomederived？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes，Ido。
　　SOCRATES：Thenifyouadmitthatprimitiveorfirstnounsarerepresentationsofthings，isthereanybetterwayofframingrepresentationsthanbyassimilatingthemtotheobjectsasmuchasyoucan；ordoyoupreferthenotionofHermogenesandofmanyothers，whosaythatnamesareconventional，andhaveameaningtothosewhohaveagreedaboutthem，andwhohavepreviousknowledgeofthethingsintendedbythem，andthatconventionistheonlyprinciple；andwhetheryouabidebyourpresentconvention，ormakeanewandoppositeone，accordingtowhichyoucallsmallgreatandgreatsmall——that，theywouldsay，makesnodifference，ifyouareonlyagreed。Whichofthesetwonotionsdoyouprefer？
　　CRATYLUS：Representationbylikeness，Socrates，isinfinitelybetterthanrepresentationbyanychancesign。
　　SOCRATES：Verygood：butifthenameistobelikethething，thelettersoutofwhichthefirstnamesarecomposedmustalsobelikethings。
　　Returningtotheimageofthepicture，Iwouldask，Howcouldanyoneevercomposeapicturewhichwouldbelikeanythingatall，iftherewerenotpigmentsinnaturewhichresembledthethingsimitated，andoutofwhichthepictureiscomposed？
　　CRATYLUS：Impossible。
　　SOCRATES：Nomorecouldnameseverresembleanyactuallyexistingthing，unlesstheoriginalelementsofwhichtheyarecompoundedboresomedegreeofresemblancetotheobjectsofwhichthenamesaretheimitation：Andtheoriginalelementsareletters？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes。
　　SOCRATES：LetmenowinviteyoutoconsiderwhatHermogenesandIweresayingaboutsounds。Doyouagreewithmethattheletterrhoisexpressiveofrapidity，motion，andhardness？Werewerightorwronginsayingso？
　　CRATYLUS：Ishouldsaythatyouwereright。
　　SOCRATES：Andthatlamdawasexpressiveofsmoothness，andsoftness，andthelike？
　　CRATYLUS：Thereagainyouwereright。
　　SOCRATES：Andyet，asyouareaware，thatwhichiscalledbyussklerotes，isbytheEretrianscalledskleroter。
　　CRATYLUS：Verytrue。
　　SOCRATES：Butarethelettersrhoandsigmaequivalents；andistherethesamesignificancetothemintheterminationrho，whichthereistousinsigma，oristherenosignificancetooneofus？
　　CRATYLUS：Nay，surelythereisasignificancetobothofus。
　　SOCRATES：Inasfarastheyarelike，orinasfarastheyareunlike？
　　CRATYLUS：Inasfarastheyarelike。
　　SOCRATES：Aretheyaltogetheralike？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes；forthepurposeofexpressingmotion。
　　SOCRATES：Andwhatdoyousayoftheinsertionofthelamda？forthatisexpressivenotofhardnessbutofsoftness。
　　CRATYLUS：Why，perhapstheletterlamdaiswronglyinserted，Socrates，andshouldbealteredintorho，asyouweresayingtoHermogenesandinmyopinionrightly，whenyouspokeofaddingandsubtractinglettersuponoccasion。
　　SOCRATES：Good。Butstillthewordisintelligibletobothofus；whenI
　　sayskleros（hard），youknowwhatImean。
　　CRATYLUS：Yes，mydearfriend，andtheexplanationofthatiscustom。
　　SOCRATES：Andwhatiscustombutconvention？IutterasoundwhichI
　　understand，andyouknowthatIunderstandthemeaningofthesound：thisiswhatyouaresaying？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes。
　　SOCRATES：AndifwhenIspeakyouknowmymeaning，thereisanindicationgivenbymetoyou？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes。
　　SOCRATES：Thisindicationofmymeaningmayproceedfromunlikeaswellasfromlike，forexampleinthelamdaofsklerotes。Butifthisistrue，thenyouhavemadeaconventionwithyourself，andthecorrectnessofanameturnsouttobeconvention，sinceletterswhichareunlikeareindicativeequallywiththosewhicharelike，iftheyaresanctionedbycustomandconvention。Andevensupposingthatyoudistinguishcustomfromconventioneversomuch，stillyoumustsaythatthesignificationofwordsisgivenbycustomandnotbylikeness，forcustommayindicatebytheunlikeaswellasbythelike。Butasweareagreedthusfar，Cratylus（forIshallassumethatyoursilencegivesconsent），thencustomandconventionmustbesupposedtocontributetotheindicationofourthoughts；forsupposewetaketheinstanceofnumber，howcanyoueverimagine，mygoodfriend，thatyouwillfindnamesresemblingeveryindividualnumber，unlessyouallowthatwhichyoutermconventionandagreementtohaveauthorityindeterminingthecorrectnessofnames？I
　　quiteagreewithyouthatwordsshouldasfaraspossibleresemblethings；
　　butIfearthatthisdragginginofresemblance，asHermogenessays，isashabbything，whichhastobesupplementedbythemechanicalaidofconventionwithaviewtocorrectness；forIbelievethatifwecouldalways，oralmostalways，uselikenesses，whichareperfectlyappropriate，thiswouldbethemostperfectstateoflanguage；astheoppositeisthemostimperfect。Butletmeaskyou，whatistheforceofnames，andwhatistheuseofthem？
　　CRATYLUS：Theuseofnames，Socrates，asIshouldimagine，istoinform：
　　thesimpletruthis，thathewhoknowsnamesknowsalsothethingswhichareexpressedbythem。
　　SOCRATES：Isupposeyoumeantosay，Cratylus，thatasthenameis，soalsoisthething；andthathewhoknowstheonewillalsoknowtheother，becausetheyaresimilars，andallsimilarsfallunderthesameartorscience；andthereforeyouwouldsaythathewhoknowsnameswillalsoknowthings。
　　CRATYLUS：ThatispreciselywhatImean。
　　SOCRATES：Butletusconsiderwhatisthenatureofthisinformationaboutthingswhich，accordingtoyou，isgivenusbynames。Isitthebestsortofinformation？oristhereanyother？Whatdoyousay？
　　CRATYLUS：Ibelievethattobeboththeonlyandthebestsortofinformationaboutthem；therecanbenoother。
　　SOCRATES：Butdoyoubelievethatinthediscoveryofthem，hewhodiscoversthenamesdiscoversalsothethings；oristhisonlythemethodofinstruction，andistheresomeothermethodofenquiryanddiscovery。
　　CRATYLUS：Icertainlybelievethatthemethodsofenquiryanddiscoveryareofthesamenatureasinstruction。
　　SOCRATES：Well，butdoyounotsee，Cratylus，thathewhofollowsnamesinthesearchafterthings，andanalysestheirmeaning，isingreatdangerofbeingdeceived？
　　CRATYLUS：Howso？
　　SOCRATES：Whyclearlyhewhofirstgavenamesgavethemaccordingtohisconceptionofthethingswhichtheysignified——didhenot？
　　CRATYLUS：True。
　　SOCRATES：Andifhisconceptionwaserroneous，andhegavenamesaccordingtohisconception，inwhatpositionshallwewhoarehisfollowersfindourselves？Shallwenotbedeceivedbyhim？
　　CRATYLUS：But，Socrates，amInotrightinthinkingthathemustsurelyhaveknown；orelse，asIwassaying，hisnameswouldnotbenamesatall？
　　Andyouhaveaclearproofthathehasnotmissedthetruth，andtheproofis——thatheisperfectlyconsistent。Didyoueverobserveinspeakingthatallthewordswhichyouutterhaveacommoncharacterandpurpose？
　　SOCRATES：Butthat，friendCratylus，isnoanswer。Forifhedidbegininerror，hemayhaveforcedtheremainderintoagreementwiththeoriginalerrorandwithhimself；therewouldbenothingstrangeinthis，anymorethaningeometricaldiagrams，whichhaveoftenaslightandinvisibleflawinthefirstpartoftheprocess，andareconsistentlymistakeninthelongdeductionswhichfollow。Andthisisthereasonwhyeverymanshouldexpendhischiefthoughtandattentionontheconsiderationofhisfirstprinciples：——aretheyoraretheynotrightlylaiddown？andwhenhehasdulysiftedthem，alltherestwillfollow。NowIshouldbeastonishedtofindthatnamesarereallyconsistent。Andhereletusreverttoourformerdiscussion：Werewenotsayingthatallthingsareinmotionandprogressandflux，andthatthisideaofmotionisexpressedbynames？Doyounotconceivethattobethemeaningofthem？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes；thatisassuredlytheirmeaning，andthetruemeaning。
　　SOCRATES：Letusreverttoepisteme（knowledge）andobservehowambiguousthiswordis，seemingrathertosignifystoppingthesoulatthingsthangoingroundwiththem；andthereforeweshouldleavethebeginningasatpresent，andnotrejecttheepsilon，butmakeaninsertionofaniotainsteadofanepsilon（notpioteme，butepiisteme）。Takeanotherexample：
　　bebaion（sure）isclearlytheexpressionofstationandposition，andnotofmotion。Again，thewordistoria（enquiry）bearsuponthefaceofitthestopping（istanai）ofthestream；andthewordpiston（faithful）certainlyindicatescessationofmotion；then，again，mneme（memory），asanyonemaysee，expressesrestinthesoul，andnotmotion。Moreover，wordssuchasamartiaandsumphora，whichhaveabadsense，viewedinthelightoftheiretymologieswillbethesameassunesisandepistemeandotherwordswhichhaveagoodsense（compareomartein，sunienai，epesthai，sumpheresthai）；
　　andmuchthesamemaybesaidofamathiaandakolasia，foramathiamaybeexplainedaseamatheoiontosporeia，andakolasiaaseakolouthiatoispragmasin。Thusthenameswhichintheseinstanceswefindtohavetheworstsense，willturnouttobeframedonthesameprincipleasthosewhichhavethebest。AndanyoneIbelievewhowouldtakethetroublemightfindmanyotherexamplesinwhichthegiverofnamesindicates，notthatthingsareinmotionorprogress，butthattheyareatrest；whichistheoppositeofmotion。
　　CRATYLUS：Yes，Socrates，butobserve；thegreaternumberexpressmotion。
　　SOCRATES：Whatofthat，Cratylus？Arewetocountthemlikevotes？andiscorrectnessofnamesthevoiceofthemajority？Arewetosayofwhicheversorttherearemost，thosearethetrueones？
　　CRATYLUS：No；thatisnotreasonable。
　　SOCRATES：Certainlynot。Butletushavedonewiththisquestionandproceedtoanother，aboutwhichIshouldliketoknowwhetheryouthinkwithme。Werewenotlatelyacknowledgingthatthefirstgiversofnamesinstates，bothHellenicandbarbarous，werethelegislators，andthattheartwhichgavenameswastheartofthelegislator？
　　CRATYLUS：Quitetrue。
　　SOCRATES：Tellme，then，didthefirstlegislators，whowerethegiversofthefirstnames，knowornotknowthethingswhichtheynamed？
　　CRATYLUS：Theymusthaveknown，Socrates。
　　SOCRATES：Why，yes，friendCratylus，theycouldhardlyhavebeenignorant。
　　CRATYLUS：Ishouldsaynot。
　　SOCRATES：Letusreturntothepointfromwhichwedigressed。Youweresaying，ifyouremember，thathewhogavenamesmusthaveknownthethingswhichhenamed；areyoustillofthatopinion？
　　CRATYLUS：Iam。
　　SOCRATES：Andwouldyousaythatthegiverofthefirstnameshadalsoaknowledgeofthethingswhichhenamed？
　　CRATYLUS：Ishould。
　　SOCRATES：Buthowcouldhehavelearnedordiscoveredthingsfromnamesiftheprimitivenameswerenotyetgiven？For，ifwearecorrectinourview，theonlywayoflearninganddiscoveringthings，iseithertodiscovernamesforourselvesortolearnthemfromothers。
　　CRATYLUS：Ithinkthatthereisagooddealinwhatyousay，Socrates。
　　SOCRATES：Butifthingsareonlytobeknownthroughnames，howcanwesupposethatthegiversofnameshadknowledge，orwerelegislatorsbeforetherewerenamesatall，andthereforebeforetheycouldhaveknownthem？
　　CRATYLUS：Ibelieve，Socrates，thetrueaccountofthemattertobe，thatapowermorethanhumangavethingstheirfirstnames，andthatthenameswhicharethusgivenarenecessarilytheirtruenames。
　　SOCRATES：Thenhowcamethegiverofthenames，ifhewasaninspiredbeingorGod，tocontradicthimself？Forwerewenotsayingjustnowthathemadesomenamesexpressiveofrestandothersofmotion？Werewemistaken？
　　CRATYLUS：ButIsupposeoneofthetwonottobenamesatall。
　　SOCRATES：Andwhich，then，didhemake，mygoodfriend；thosewhichareexpressiveofrest，orthosewhichareexpressiveofmotion？Thisisapointwhich，asIsaidbefore，cannotbedeterminedbycountingthem。
　　CRATYLUS：No；notinthatway，Socrates。
　　SOCRATES：Butifthisisabattleofnames，someofthemassertingthattheyarelikethetruth，otherscontendingthatTHEYare，howorbywhatcriterionarewetodecidebetweenthem？Fortherearenoothernamestowhichappealcanbemade，butobviouslyrecoursemustbehadtoanotherstandardwhich，withoutemployingnames，willmakeclearwhichofthetwoareright；andthismustbeastandardwhichshowsthetruthofthings。
　　CRATYLUS：Iagree。
　　SOCRATES：Butifthatistrue，Cratylus，thenIsupposethatthingsmaybeknownwithoutnames？
　　CRATYLUS：Clearly。
　　SOCRATES：Buthowwouldyouexpecttoknowthem？Whatotherwaycantherebeofknowingthem，exceptthetrueandnaturalway，throughtheiraffinities，whentheyareakintoeachother，andthroughthemselves？Forthatwhichisotheranddifferentfromthemmustsignifysomethingotheranddifferentfromthem。
　　CRATYLUS：Whatyouaresayingis，Ithink，true。
　　SOCRATES：Well，butreflect；havewenotseveraltimesacknowledgedthatnamesrightlygivenarethelikenessesandimagesofthethingswhichtheyname？
　　CRATYLUS：Yes。
　　SOCRATES：Letussupposethattoanyextentyoupleaseyoucanlearnthingsthroughthemediumofnames，andsupposealsothatyoucanlearnthemfromthethingsthemselves——whichislikelytobethenoblerandclearerway；tolearnoftheimage，whethertheimageandthetruthofwhichtheimageistheexpressionhavebeenrightlyconceived，ortolearnofthetruthwhetherthetruthandtheimageofithavebeendulyexecuted？
　　CRATYLUS：Ishouldsaythatwemustlearnofthetruth。
　　SOCRATES：Howrealexistenceistobestudiedordiscoveredis，Isuspect，beyondyouandme。Butwemayadmitsomuch，thattheknowledgeofthingsisnottobederivedfromnames。No；theymustbestudiedandinvestigatedinthemselves。
　　CRATYLUS：Clearly，Socrates。
　　SOCRATES：Thereisanotherpoint。Ishouldnotlikeustobeimposeduponbytheappearanceofsuchamultitudeofnames，alltendinginthesamedirection。Imyselfdonotdenythatthegiversofnamesdidreallygivethemundertheideathatallthingswereinmotionandflux；whichwastheirsincerebut，Ithink，mistakenopinion。Andhavingfallenintoakindofwhirlpoolthemselves，theyarecarriedround，andwanttodragusinafterthem。Thereisamatter，masterCratylus，aboutwhichIoftendream，andshouldliketoaskyouropinion：Tellme，whetherthereisorisnotanyabsolutebeautyorgood，oranyotherabsoluteexistence？
　　CRATYLUS：Certainly，Socrates，Ithinkso。
　　SOCRATES：Thenletusseekthetruebeauty：notaskingwhetherafaceisfair，oranythingofthatsort，forallsuchthingsappeartobeinaflux；
　　butletusaskwhetherthetruebeautyisnotalwaysbeautiful。
　　CRATYLUS：Certainly。
　　SOCRATES：Andcanwerightlyspeakofabeautywhichisalwayspassingaway，andisfirstthisandthenthat；mustnotthesamethingbebornandretireandvanishwhilethewordisinourmouths？
　　CRATYLUS：Undoubtedly。
　　SOCRATES：Thenhowcanthatbearealthingwhichisneverinthesamestate？forobviouslythingswhicharethesamecannotchangewhiletheyremainthesame；andiftheyarealwaysthesameandinthesamestate，andneverdepartfromtheiroriginalform，theycanneverchangeorbemoved。
　　CRATYLUS：Certainlytheycannot。
　　SOCRATES：Noryetcantheybeknownbyanyone；foratthemomentthattheobserverapproaches，thentheybecomeotherandofanothernature，sothatyoucannotgetanyfurtherinknowingtheirnatureorstate，foryoucannotknowthatwhichhasnostate。
　　CRATYLUS：True。
　　SOCRATES：Norcanwereasonablysay，Cratylus，thatthereisknowledgeatall，ifeverythingisinastateoftransitionandthereisnothingabiding；forknowledgetoocannotcontinuetobeknowledgeunlesscontinuingalwaystoabideandexist。Butiftheverynatureofknowledgechanges，atthetimewhenthechangeoccurstherewillbenoknowledge；andifthetransitionisalwaysgoingon，therewillalwaysbenoknowledge，and，accordingtothisview，therewillbenoonetoknowandnothingtobeknown：butifthatwhichknowsandthatwhichisknownexistsever，andthebeautifulandthegoodandeveryotherthingalsoexist，thenIdonotthinkthattheycanresembleaprocessorflux，aswewerejustnowsupposing。Whetherthereisthiseternalnatureinthings，orwhetherthetruthiswhatHeracleitusandhisfollowersandmanyotherssay，isaquestionhardtodetermine；andnomanofsensewillliketoputhimselfortheeducationofhismindinthepowerofnames：neitherwillhesofartrustnamesorthegiversofnamesastobeconfidentinanyknowledgewhichcondemnshimselfandotherexistencestoanunhealthystateofunreality；hewillnotbelievethatallthingsleaklikeapot，orimaginethattheworldisamanwhohasarunningatthenose。Thismaybetrue，Cratylus，butisalsoverylikelytobeuntrue；andthereforeIwouldnothaveyoubetooeasilypersuadedofit。Reflectwellandlikeaman，anddonoteasilyacceptsuchadoctrine；foryouareyoungandofanagetolearn。Andwhenyouhavefoundthetruth，comeandtellme。
　　CRATYLUS：Iwilldoasyousay，thoughIcanassureyou，Socrates，thatI
　　havebeenconsideringthematteralready，andtheresultofagreatdealoftroubleandconsiderationisthatIinclinetoHeracleitus。
　　SOCRATES：Then，anotherday，myfriend，whenyoucomeback，youshallgivemealesson；butatpresent，gointothecountry，asyouareintending，andHermogenesshallsetyouonyourway。
　　CRATYLUS：Verygood，Socrates；Ihope，however，thatyouwillcontinuetothinkaboutthesethingsyourself。